Chapter Seven

In Laurie’s latest letter, he had asked for a painting for Grandfather. Amy intended to put forth her very best effort to fulfill his request.

Returning to her artist studio for the first time in weeks, she took up her paint and brushes. As she held them in her delicate hands, she felt a sense of rightness. No, she was not a genius of the art world, but painting and sketching brought her joy. Although she might not pursue art in the serious way she had imagined as a girl, she could still paint and sketch to ease her worried heart.

Beth was very ill, she knew. There was absolutely nothing she could do but pray and write home often, filling the pages with tales of her adventures in the Old Country.

Now she stood alone in front of a small canvas, brushes and pallet in hand. She knew what she wanted to create for Mr. Laurence but was unsure of her ability to execute it. Taking a deep breath, she began.

The delicate curves of Beth’s features started to fill the blank space as Amy first sketched out her sister’s face. She made it so Beth was looking past the viewer with an expression of peace and love. That was what her dear Beth looked like in Amy’s mind. Always cheerful, always loving. She never had a harsh word for anyone.

Amy worked well into the evening. She hadn’t finished, but she had made a good start on something that she hoped might bring Grandfather happiness.

As she packed up her things, she thought again of Laurie. He occupied her thoughts often these days. He had not mentioned Fred in his last letter. Had he understood her message when she had written that Fred was gone? Probably not. Laurie had never understood that part of her. They got on so well together, yet he was horribly obtuse when it came to matters of the heart.

She had believed herself resigned to the fact that Laurie was to marry Jo, and that was that. It had never occurred to her that Jo would refuse him. Jo had never been openly affectionate in that way toward their neighbor, but she was always with him. Jo loved being exclusive with Laurie and often stole him away from Amy when they were all children. Both families assumed those two would marry.

But Jo had refused him.

Foolish girl! How could she hurt Laurie so deeply? Had she fallen in love with someone else, perhaps? She often mentioned a German professor in her letters, but Amy understood him to be rather old. Would Jo really reject Laurie for this professor person?

Oh! It was impossible to be in this position! She was angry with Jo for hurting Laurie. At the same time, a sense of hope that had long been absent grew in her heart. Might Laurie actually see her—the real her—now that Jo was not nearby to distract him?

When Amy returned to the hotel in time to change for dinner, she found several letters waiting for her. She leafed through them, her heart skipping a beat when she realized that Laurie had written again.

Then her eyes fell on a letter from Marmee. She held her breath as she opened it, dread pooling in her belly.

The news was not what she feared but did not offer any hope for the future. Beth continued to weaken. Her sister was too ill to write now, though Marmee relayed Beth’s best blessings to her. A tear fell on the page as Amy read of her beloved family in America, so very far away. Once again, she was filled with an urgent desire to go home to see Beth.

However, Marmee had closed the letter with a firm admonishment that she remain in Europe with her aunt and cousin. There is nothing you can do here, dear child. Beth takes great joy in your letters and speaks often of how happy she is that you are following your dream.

Amy folded the missive carefully and put it with the others in the hat box she had gotten in Paris. Her eyes fell on Laurie’s note, which still lay on the dressing table unopened. She turned from it in a moment of overwhelming emotion. What was she to do? Everything seemed too much to bear these days. She could not be sure of anything.

Letters took so long to reach her from home. What if something had happened since Marmee last wrote? Aunt Carrol was ill, and Amy could not be sure when they would go home. She was dependent upon her aunt’s kindness, after all.

Adding to her frustration was this new unsettled feeling regarding Laurie. Why did things suddenly feel different between them?

With a little huff of annoyance, she sat upon the bed, the sudden motion causing the ribbons in her hair to flounce around her. Was that really true? What had changed regarding Laurie? Nothing, in reality.

Amy spoke to herself firmly, as she had done these many years. Laurie does not care for you in that way. Nothing has changed. I will be respected if I cannot be loved. The words brought a sense of calm, as they always did. She rose from the bed and ignored how her fingers shook ever so slightly as she opened Laurie’s letter.

My dear Amy,

How are you, really? You must be lonely. I find I am, as well. I am surrounded by friends, but I feel as if I am lost at sea.

I hope I do not burden you to speak so frankly. But when we last met, you did say that you missed my blunt, natural way of talking. So many things have changed recently. It seems too much all at once.

I am no composer. I have decided to put my music aside and pursue business with Grandfather. If he agrees, I shall begin as soon as I return to our London home from Darcy House. He can teach me the inner workings of the business here before we return to America.

I wish you could come to London. I would love to introduce you to Mrs. Darcy. She is a charming, elegant lady, and the two of you would get on splendidly.

Now it is my turn to thank you. Your lecture to me during the Christmas holidays has done me the world of good. If you have any other observations to share, I am at your service.

When does Fred Vaughn return from England?

Your friend,

Laurie

Amy read his letter twice before setting it down upon the little table. He asked about Fred, surely to see how much longer she would be alone in Nice. She longed to go to London. Mrs. Darcy sounded rather intriguing, and it would be lovely to be surrounded by friends.

The dinner bell rang. Amy stood at once to go down, as Flo would be waiting alone for her. Answering Laurie’s letter would have to wait until after dinner.

The two young ladies had a rather quiet supper. Aunt Carrol was slowly recovering. The doctor said it was a serious fever but was confident she would heal if given time and space to rest. Amy shared her news of Beth.

“Why does it feel that the world has shifted lately?” Flo asked, her usual carefree demeanor dimmed.

“I feel just the same. Everything I was sure of seems wrong.”

“Do you miss Fred?”

Amy shook her head. “I can at least ease your mind on that point. I miss him as a friend, but my heart is not broken.”

“Why did you not accept him, Amy?”

Her cousin had never inquired about it before this, and Amy found she did not wish to explain. “He never asked, Flo. We just…I suppose we both realized that we were not meant to be.”

Flo seemed satisfied by this answer, if not a little puzzled.

“I grow tired of Nice.” Flo sounded dejected. “The doctor suggested a milder climate for Mama to ease her recovery.”

“Perhaps it is time to move on.” Amy looked out the window at the city beyond, wondering what tomorrow would bring.

***

“Theodore, the Darcys have invited us for supper. I presumed you were free and sent our acceptance.”

“I am at your service.” Laurie was delighted at the opportunity to see Fritz and his grandparents.

“Good! I believe it will be a larger party than usual, but do not worry. My friend is no lover of large gatherings.”

All feelings of warmth fled from Laurie’s body as soon as he entered the sitting room at Darcy House. There were, indeed, more people than there had been at their last dinner party. It was not the number of people, however, that disturbed him.

Standing at the other end of the room and looking at him with a distinctly sour expression was none other than Fred Vaughn.

Laurie’s steps faltered as their eyes met. What the devil was he doing here?

His memory of Fitz explaining the Darcy relation to the Vaughns came back to him, but he still felt unpleasantly surprised. Vaughn had left Amy alone in Nice, after all. Her dear sister was ill, and he had left her to come home to dinner parties?

“Ah! Laurie, James, I am so pleased to see you! Look who we have found here in London! The very same Fred Vaughn we were speaking of last week.” Mrs. Darcy motioned to Fred, who took a step forward and extended his hand to Grandfather.

“It is good to see you again, sir,” he said in his crisp, British accent. Amy had always admired the sound of his voice.

“Fred, it has been quite a while.” Laurie did not offer his hand.

“Indeed.” He spoke the word with a bitterness that struck Laurie like a blow. Tension suddenly filled the room.

Mrs. Darcy glanced sharply between the two of them. “You are acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn, I presume?” She motioned to the older couple standing a little to the side.

Mrs. Vaughn gave a delicate curtsy. “It is good to see you again, Theodore.”

Her husband offered a curt nod and mumbled something about it being a long time.

“It is good to see you both,” Laurie said.

“It has been many years. I am very happy to see you all again.” Grandfather did not seem to notice the strained atmosphere as he stepped into the room.

Laurie recognized he must attempt to converse with Fred civilly, no matter how annoyed he felt at the fellow’s tendency to leave women alone when they needed a friend. “I hope you have been well. Your younger sister is recently married, I believe?”

“Yes, Grace was married last fall. She is very happy living here in London.”

“I am glad to hear it.”

“And you, Laurence? You have been traveling, I hear. Does it suit you?”

Laurie considered his response. “It does. I grew anxious and fretful in Concord, and so my grandfather and I ventured across the wide ocean to the Old Country.”

“My grandson never seems to tire of traveling,” Grandfather offered. “He returned very recently from Nice.”

Fred Vaughn’s lips thinned, but he said nothing. The dinner bell rang, saving Laurie from having to reply.

He was seated between Fred and Fitz. He glanced toward Grandfather, who was speaking to the senior Mr. Vaughn, seemingly at ease. Why then, was Laurie so out of sorts? He glanced at Fred. They were still friends, weren’t they? Why did Laurie feel the need to trounce him? He thought of Amy alone in Nice. That was why, of course.

“Was Amy well when you left her?” He spoke in what he hoped was a neutral tone.

Fred froze with his soup spoon halfway to his mouth. “She was.”

“I wonder that you left her to come back to England. I assume it was something very important to take you away.”

Fred set his spoon down with an audible clank. “Do not concern yourself, Laurence.”

“And when do you return to Nice?”

The conversation of the table flowed around them for a moment. Fred was silent, but his pleasantly bland smile seemed forced. Fitz, sensing a lull in their conversation, commanded Fred’s attention.

Laurie looked across the table and saw Mrs. Vaughn looking at her son with an anxious expression. He returned his attention to his soup. However, a moment later, Fred turned to him slightly and asked a question of his own rather than answer Laurie’s.

“And you, Laurence? When do you return to Nice?”

“I? I have no plan to do so.”

Fred nodded as if he had expected this answer. “Even if someone is waiting for you?”

His tone was positively unpleasant. Confused, Laurie felt his temper rising. “And what about the one who waits for you? You have heard, I assume, that Amy’s sister Beth is very ill?”

Fred looked at him warily. “I have. I hope nothing has happened.”

Laurie shook his head. “Amy is alone in Nice, yet you are here. I thought you cared about her.”

“You know nothing about it, Theodora!”

The entire table fell silent. Mr. and Mrs. Darcy shared a look of concern. Fred was staring at him with absolute dislike.

Fitz let out a forced laugh. “Theodora! I haven’t heard that moniker in quite some time, Fred. You had better watch out, or Laurie will thrash you like he did all those years ago.”

“Boys at school can be so dramatic, don’t you agree, Lillian?” Mrs. Darcy said lightly.

Mrs. Vaughn muttered something in agreement.

“You are quite right, my dear,” Mr. Darcy said. “Mr. Laurence, how goes your composition?”

The message was clear; it was time to change the subject. Laurie felt a trifle guilty for putting his hosts in an awkward position. Turning his body to face Mr. Darcy, he replied, “I am a musician, sir, I am no composer.”

“You sound like my sister, Georgiana.”

“He does, doesn’t he?” Mrs. Darcy agreed. “Georgiana preferred playing to composing, though we all thought she was quite good at both. She has always been one of the most accomplished women of my acquaintance.”

“I would very much like to meet her,” Laurie replied.

“I am sure she would love you, as we do. Alas, she rarely leaves Derbyshire. She is even more attached to the country than my husband.” Mrs. Darcy smiled indulgently at Mr. Darcy, who raised his glass in salute.

The evening wore on in a more agreeable fashion than it began, although Laurie was careful not to speak with Fred again. Indeed, he tried not to look at him. Whenever he did, he felt angry for Amy’s sake.

The Vaughns moved to leave a trifle earlier than was customary for such a gathering, but the Darcys seemed not to notice. As his parents spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, Fred Vaughn walked purposefully toward Laurie. “Goodbye, Laurence. I do not think that we shall meet again.”

Laurie was taken aback. They had shared harsh words, but did that dissolve a friendship of such long standing? Fred stared at him hard, and then his face seemed to soften just slightly.

“It will be difficult for me to meet you often, I believe.”

“Will you be traveling?”

Fred ignored this question and offered his hand instead. Laurie took it, though he still felt confused. “I see that you are still unaware. I hope you can understand me someday.”

Utterly bewildered, Laurie simply answered, “So do I, Freddie.”

A wistful look ghosted across Fred Vaughn’s face. He seemed as if he might say more, but he shook his head sadly and left to join his parents.

Laurie watched him go, hoping that they might mend their friendship someday. He was only thinking of Amy—after all, didn’t they have that in common? Her welfare was important to them both, he was certain.

A short while later, he and Grandfather took their leave. As he said farewell to Mrs. Darcy, Laurie took the opportunity to apologize. “I must ask your forgiveness for earlier, ma’am. It was uncivil of me to put you in such a position.”

“Do not worry. I am old enough to have witnessed many an awkward scene at a dinner party. But allow me to beg your pardon. I thought that you and Fred were friends. Had I known there was some animosity between you, I would not have invited the Vaughns this evening.”

Laurie blinked at her, trying to find the words to explain. “We are friends…or rather, we were friends. I hope we shall be again.”

The lady puts her hand up to forestall him. “No further explanation is necessary, my dear. Now, you must come to visit again before you leave. Promise me?”

“I promise, ma’am. And thank you.”